CHRIS McCALL

Edinburgh Zoo is developing pioneering conservation techniques to boost the survival of endangered cat species ranging from tigers to the Scottish wildcat.

Although primarily known as a leading tourist attraction, with more than 600,000 visitors each year, the zoo is aiming to increase the profile of its research work, which plays a vital role in internationally coordinated efforts to preserve diversity of life.

Barbara Smith, chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society Of Scotland, in front of the new tiger enclosure at Edinburgh. Picture: Greg Macvean/TSPL

The site on Corstorphine Hill is owned and operated by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) and boasts one of only three genetics labs in Europe.

It’s home to a team of scientists working on a variety of projects, from combatting the illegal trade of rhino horn to creating a ‘molecular stud book’ of wildcats north of the border.

The central aim is to solve conservation problems with zoo-based techniques.

“We support a wide variety of research programmes both across the UK and around the world,” said Barbara Smith, recently-appointed CEO at RZSS.

Edinburgh Zoo has been based on the slopes of Corstorphine Hill since 1913. Picture: Dan Phillips/TSPL

“Zoos have been really transformed in recent years. Edinburgh has become a leader in conservation - it’s all about communicating the value of diversity in the living world.”

One of the society’s flagship projects is implementing its ‘Big Cat Strategy’, launched in 2014.

This led to the opening in June of a new £500,000 enclosure for the zoo’s pair of Sumatran tigers.

Named Tiger Tracks, the facility offers the critically endangered animals three times more space than their previous enclosure.

Male Jambi, aged 12, arrived in Edinburgh in July 2015 from Berlin, while female Baginda, also aged 12, arrived from Benidorm in May 2011.

With an estimated 100-300 of the species left in their natural island habitat in Indonesia, Smith is hopeful the Edinburgh pair will soon begin breeding.

Around 97 per cent of all wild tigers have died out over the last century.